How did Akshay Bhatia win the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite missing tee shots and approaches in the final round? He drove them all away.
Bhatia was called close this week, leading the field at Bay Hill in both Strokes Gained: Around the Green and Putting as he earned his third PGA Tour victory in a playoff on Daniel Berger. But it was his putting that really set him apart, as he gained 10.6 shots on the green – 3.5 more than anyone else.
Almost half of his 2.7 strokes from the final round came on the 11th hole, where he drained a massive 58-foot birdie in the midst of four straight putts to start the back nine.
Since late 2023, Bhatia has been one of the the most prominent users of a broomstick-style shooter (and has set the internet on fire with a slew of false allegations that it anchors the 50-inch long Odyssey Jailbird DB Brooms in the chest during his stroke).
Bhatia has largely stuck to the same look and shaft orientation of the Jailbird since switching to the method at the end of his rookie season in 2023. He briefly used the newer version of the Odyssey He-Dual Jailbird broom with a new 1/2 ball stretch aid and Ai-Dual putter, but returned to his player earlier this season.
Its player features a soft Microhinge insert and has 3 degrees of loft.
The improvement since the switch has been pretty incredible. Bhatia was near the bottom in Strokes Gained: Setting 2023, ranking 183rd as he made the transition toward the end of the season. He immediately jumped to 33rd in 2024 and 35th in 2025, his first two seasons with the broom. So far this season, he is 12th on the PGA Tour in the division.
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“Having two consistent years with placement has had a huge impact on my last two years on the tour,” Bhatia 5 Clubs Golf said earlier last week. I feel like I’m pretty consistent with how I practice. It’s being a really good player here because that’s what helps us win golf tournaments.”
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